Ethereum Classic: The Platform that Remained True to Original Principles

Ethereum Classic (ETC) represents a distinct philosophical choice in the universe of cryptocurrencies. While the majority of the blockchain community followed one path, a significant portion chose to maintain the immutable integrity of the technology, even in the face of devastating financial losses.

The Incident that Divided the Community

In 2016, a catastrophic event marked the birth of ETC. The DAO, a decentralized venture capital fund and gaming platform built on Ethereum, suffered a hacker attack that resulted in the diversion of US$ 60 million in ETH. The vulnerability in the smart contract code was ruthlessly exploited, calling into question the security of the network itself.

The response was divided. While most Ethereum developers and users voted for a hard fork that would reverse the transaction and refund the stolen funds, a group of purists argued that such an action violated the fundamental principle of blockchain immutability. For them, “code is law” was inviolable, regardless of the consequences.

Two Paths, Two Philosophies

This disagreement was not merely technical—it was ideological. The division resulted in two distinct blockchains: Ethereum (ETH) continued its rapid development, while Ethereum Classic remained true to the original principles.

The similarities between ETC and ETH still exist. Both enable smart contracts and decentralized applications (dApps), functioning as programmable platforms. However, their technological trajectories diverged significantly after 2022.

The Great Technological Divergence

The most critical transformation occurred when Ethereum transitioned to Proof of Stake in September 2022, abandoning the Proof of Work mechanism that relied on miners. Ethereum Classic, however, remained committed to the original Proof of Work, continuing to validate transactions through mining.

This technical choice reflects a fundamental philosophical difference: while Ethereum has evolved, incorporating significant updates and structural changes, Ethereum Classic has refused to implement these adjustments following the historic hard fork. As a result, the original ETC protocol remains virtually unchanged, reflecting a more conservative view on blockchain development.

Distinct Communities, Different Futures

Today, ETC and ETH represent two ecosystems with their own communities, values, and trajectories. While Ethereum has become a benchmark for next-generation smart contracts, Ethereum Classic remains a symbol of resistance to the principle of immutability, even when this position seems doomed to remain a minority in the market.